Mirror Finish

[Cleantacoma]

Re: Mirror Finish

A DA is a great investment if you're really looking to get the max gloss you can out of any paint. Read through this article for some background on using a DA, but it really is a simple tool to get used to. Some will say it's impossible to damage your paint with a DA but the truth is anything is possible. A better way to put it is that it's highly improbable that you'll damage your paint with a DA. Usually, even if you try to damage the paint you can't.

Ultimate Compound is great stuff and the DA will maximize its effectiveness. Follow that with Ultimate Polish on a foam finishing pad and then finish it all off with Ultimate Wax paste and that green metallic should really be popping.

So I want to get a cheap DA I hate to even say it but what about a harbor fright one? what am I looking for in a DA? and what kind of pads? I would love to get the Megs DA and Pads but we dont have anything local

[Cleantacoma]

Re: Mirror Finish

Know the feeling, same here.

You need some Ult Wash and Wax (also good for quik bird stuff removal) or much less expensive is No Rinse Express Wash (no wax and concentrated large bottle. They also make a large bottle with wash and wax now I believe).

The yellow car wash soap?

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Mirror Finish

A DA is a great investment if you're really looking to get the max gloss you can out of any paint. Read through this article for some background on using a DA, but it really is a simple tool to get used to. Some will say it's impossible to damage your paint with a DA but the truth is anything is possible. A better way to put it is that it's highly improbable that you'll damage your paint with a DA. Usually, even if you try to damage the paint you can't.

Ultimate Compound is great stuff and the DA will maximize its effectiveness. Follow that with Ultimate Polish on a foam finishing pad and then finish it all off with Ultimate Wax paste and that green metallic should really be popping.

[Stephan]

Re: Mirror Finish

Know the feeling, same here.

You need some Ult Wash and Wax (also good for quik bird stuff removal) or much less expensive is No Rinse Express Wash (no wax and concentrated large bottle. They also make a large bottle with wash and wax now I believe).

[Cleantacoma]

Re: Mirror Finish

The Tacoma sits outside and gets dusty in about 10mins its a full time job

[Stephan]

Re: Mirror Finish

UQD is for light dust if your car is garaged for example, and you want to clean the dust off. It has no wax.

UQW is similar except it has wax in it.

[Cleantacoma]

Re: Mirror Finish

The flood method is extremely helpful when drying off a car that has wax on it. Also, using a quick Detailer or spray wax while drying usually helps the process too and helps avoid water spots, plus if you use a spray wax, it boosts your protection.

whats your input on UQD over UQW? And when to use them

[jarred767]

The flood method is extremely helpful when drying off a car that has wax on it. Also, using a quick Detailer or spray wax while drying usually helps the process too and helps avoid water spots, plus if you use a spray wax, it boosts your protection.

[Cleantacoma]

Re: Mirror Finish

Yep, your pics show it. Mine looked pretty much the same way in direct sun - only my jet black paint showed the swirls more. They are pretty much entirely gone now.

The water spot thing is a pain! One trick I learned here and on other forums is to dry with a leaf blower, then use MF towels to dry any remaining water. I typically follow that with a quick going over with Megs ultimate liquid. When I'm in a hurry and don't have time to dry properly, mine looks exactly like yours - and I must have hard water, bc getting the spots off is impossible w/o using polish. Grrrr.

Ya we have real HARD water up here although I will say as I found out last night take any end off of your hose and just floor your car top to bottom the volume of water pulls any water off and leaves only a handful of drops to be dryed I am going to wash again tonight I will post a pic

[dwg51357]

Re: Mirror Finish

Yep, your pics show it. Mine looked pretty much the same way in direct sun - only my jet black paint showed the swirls more. They are pretty much entirely gone now.

The water spot thing is a pain! One trick I learned here and on other forums is to dry with a leaf blower, then use MF towels to dry any remaining water. I typically follow that with a quick going over with Megs ultimate liquid. When I'm in a hurry and don't have time to dry properly, mine looks exactly like yours - and I must have hard water, bc getting the spots off is impossible w/o using polish. Grrrr.

[Cleantacoma]

Re: Mirror Finish

Brice - I had a similar experience with my black Saab Aero. Dark finishes really show any imperfections. I did mine all by hand - Swirl X (I bought it used, and it showed quite a bit of swirling in direct sun), ultimate polish, ultimate wax. I couldn't get that deep, rich look I wanted - and when the car was in direct sun, you could still see swirling and hazing.

Following the advice of guys here, I bought a DA. Mine is a Porter-Cable, but I'm sure the Megs one would work just as well. Got lots of good advice from guys here on how to use it. The difference is amazing. It is virtually swirl free, deep, glossy black.

Hey thanks for the input man! see the pics in full sun I am thinking I will go DA been watching many VIDS on how to do it

[Cleantacoma]

Re: Mirror Finish

Some more pics at high noon you can see the spider webbing (these are still all on the hood that I have compounded 3 times for hours)











Now these are on the doors and it irritates me real bad I cleaned and waxed the truck 2 weeks ago it looked good but I wanted more (the reason I am on here and using compound and polish)
so the sprinkler hits the few week old wax and I get this.......



WATER SPOTS! bad ones UQD will not take them off I am having to use compound to get them off I thought wax would protect from this kind of thing.........

[dwg51357]

Re: Mirror Finish

Brice - I had a similar experience with my black Saab Aero. Dark finishes really show any imperfections. I did mine all by hand - Swirl X (I bought it used, and it showed quite a bit of swirling in direct sun), ultimate polish, ultimate wax. I couldn't get that deep, rich look I wanted - and when the car was in direct sun, you could still see swirling and hazing.

Following the advice of guys here, I bought a DA. Mine is a Porter-Cable, but I'm sure the Megs one would work just as well. Got lots of good advice from guys here on how to use it. The difference is amazing. It is virtually swirl free, deep, glossy black.

[BillE]

Re: Mirror Finish

Seeing that you mentioned Mike Phillips, watch a bunch of his videos. The 'Junkman' also has some great vids over at You Tube (also on here MOL, just 'search').

Bill

[jarred767]

Try runnin a business, the towels I run through our wash machine are both high in volume, and often quite disgusting (usually from interiors). My better half finally gave in about 6 years ago, so it's all good now.

So it sounds like you're definitely good on the clay, (nice work comparing it with the neighbors!) And for compound and polish you're using the ultimate line, right? If so, and you're having the bad luck you are, you're probably up against some pretty hard clear coat. You're probably at the point of needing a DA. These are very safe machines, watch a couple YouTube videos from guys who know what they're doing and you should be on your way. Use these forums as there's a ton of great info, but you're on the right track. Good luck man!